Capricious

 

They rise and dive,

dart and dip,

sweep and weave,

as they flutter by

your garden of flowers.

These capricious creatures

lighter than air,

performing an erratic ballet;

dancing through the soft

sunshine of summer.

© 2026 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. 2. 3. Home Garden - Cannonsburg, Michigan

Outdoor Ballet

 

Here it comes again;

the annual autumn

medley of leaves.

All the talk is about the colors,

the intensity, the "peak week",

where to drive or walk

for the perfect peek.

Or simply watching

these golden slippers;

a gathering of grace

as they flutter-fall to earth.

A short-lived display.

An outdoor ballet.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

2. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

3. Ada Township - Kent County - Michigan

4. East Grand Rapids, Michigan

 

Full Release

 

In September,

especially if it's been dry,

trees lose their leaves

singly, and casually.

But by mid-October

it becomes full release.

A massive display,

an elegant ballet

of twists and turns.

Colored leaves

sifting through branches.

Falling gracefully

through cool autumn air.

I imagine each leaf

a moving prayer.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Tiffany Avenue - Kent County - Michigan

2. Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

3. Home Trees - Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

 

Seafoam

 

Where the shoulder of the dunes

meets the breast of the beach,

a necklace of Sanderlings

performs a jittery, skittery ballet

along the white blouse of seafoam.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Sanibel Island, Florida

Circle of Dreams

 

As she spins on the stage,

her pink silk skirt

flares in a circle of dreams.

Moving with feminine grace,

and engaging, magnetic charm,

spinning in brilliant light.

Turning in pirouette,

her captivating face

fixed on the future.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. 2. 3. Hollyhocks - Home Garden - Cannonsburg, Michigan

Space Between Words

 

How could these meager words

ever hope to emulate

a cluster of Sugar Maple leaves

as they waver on long petioles

after a gentle autumn rain?

How could these modest words

ever hope to simulate

a tier of American Beech leaves

when they rise and fall;

like taking a bow

after a ballet performance?

How could these mere words

ever hope to duplicate

the way a mild breeze

whispers through

ten-thousand fine needles

of a large White Pine?

There is nothing

but air and sky

in the spaces

between these words.

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 3. Home Woods ~ Cannonsburg, Michigan

2. Egypt Valley Loop Hike - Cannonsburg State Game Area - Kent County - Michigan

4. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

5. Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

Prayer Leaves

 

Each yellow leaf

that has fallen this fall,

and the red, orange,

and brown ones too,

represent  so many 

fluttering prayers.

Prayers of gratitude

that have illuminated

my autumn days.

An elegant  ballet of twists and turns

sifting through branches and twigs,

to land softly upon the ground;

a book of uncommon prayer.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 3. Home Woods ~ Cannonsburg, Michigan

2. 4. & 5. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

Blue Statue

 

The Great Blue Heron statue,

standing still in shallow water,

begins a slow-motion ballet.

A picture of patience,

leaning over its own reflection,

holding a pose of predation.

Cattail leaves swaying gently,

frame the backdrop for

the anticipated attack.

Living spear thrusts.

Calm water splashes.

Heron pierces prey.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Estero, Florida

3. & 4. Rogue River - Rockford, Michigan

Ballet Beneath the Stars

She was hoping the clouds would clear,
was waiting for darkness to arrive.

Waiting for the stars to begin
their silent, distant dance.

Ready to begin her own alone dance,
to the silent music playing in her head;

with no one in the universe watching,
except, perhaps, her guardian angels.

Under this glittering galaxy,
a ballet beneath the stars.

Grace and gratitude.
Close enough to feel.

© 2017 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Art Prize ~ 2013 -Grand Rapids, Michigan

2. Orion ~ from Catalina, Arizona 

Soft Mystery

What soft mystery
is developing 
inside the purity
of this  white 
cactus flower?

A ring of spectators
circles the stage
to witness,
or to participate in,
a pollination ballet. 

© 2014 Richard Havenga

Dedicated to:
Joanne Jaglowski - Ballerina extraordinaire. 


You may also like: "Pollination Ballet" - June 3, 2013


Photo Location:

Saguaro National Park - Tucson,  Arizona